Aeroplane.



D. L MOBLEY.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN), 1911. RENEWED SEPT. 13, 1911. 1W7@ Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

AEROPLAN. 1

APPLIOATION FILED 1,111.5, 1911. RBNEWED SEPT. 13, 1911. Lwfgu Patented Nov. 7,1911.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID LESLIE MOBLEY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AEROPLANE.

`Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

Application led January 5, 1911, Serial No. 600,943. Renewed September 13, 1911. Serial No. 649,196.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID LESLIE MoBLEY,

forced through the air by propelling means.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the aeroplane surfaces are so distrib uted with reference toone another and to the center of gravit ofthe machine that lateral and longitu inal stability will be provided for without the use of movable stabilizing devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane having upper and lower planes in which the said lanes are so formed and disposed that substantially the full effect of both planes is obtained both -in forward propulsion and indescending.

Other objects of the inventioirwill appear v hereinafte The accompanying drawings illustrate the l invention, and referrin thereto: Figure v1 is a erspective of the rame and aeroplane portions of the machine, Fig, 2 1s a plan of the machine. Fig. 3 is aninverted plan of the machine. Fig. 4:. is a front elevation,

and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the machine.v Fig. 6 is a detail viewof the operating gearing lfor the vertical rudder.

The machine comprises two main upper aeroplane members 1 mounted at each side of the longitudinal axis of the machine, and

two lower aeroplane members 2 below the4 members 1, all of said aeroplane members being mounted on. a rigid frame consisting of upper and lower` ame portions connected and spaced apart by vertical struts 3. Each of the said aeroplane members 1 and 2 is of triangular form. The lower aeroplane members are of smaller dimensions than the the stretching frames for said aeroplane members. A brace bar 7 'extends from the front bar 4 longitudinally of each aeroplane member l and is connected at its rear end to the rear bar. The lower frame portion similarly comprises front and rear bars 4 and 5 and 4oblique bars 6. The lower aeroplane members 2, being smaller than the upper aeroplane members 1 are preferably supported by stretching frame bars 8 and 9, forming a triangle, attached to the lower frame bars 6 by extensions 8 of the front bar 8, and by an extension 9 of a brace bar 7 extending longitudinally of the lower aeroplane member. The machine also preferably comprises a rear aeroplane member 10 mounted in ixe position on the upper .frame and preferably in the same plane as the aeroplane members 1, with its forward end connected to the member 1 intermediate its ends and extending rearwardly beyondthe rear ends of the members 1, said rear aeroplane member 10 being also in the form of a triangle with its4 base presented at the front edge thereof, a front bar 11 be- A ing provided at this edge, connected to ob. lique bars 6 and oblique bars 12 extending from the ends of bar 11 to the apex of the triangle at the rear end thereof. Below this rear `aeroplane member is mounted an elevator member or horizontal rudder 14; carried by a shaft 15 pivotally mounted in bearings 16 on a bottom frame bar 17 connected to the bottom frame bars 6', this horizontal rudder being provided with means for adjustment or control, as hereinafter set j forth. A vertical rudder 18 is also provided,

carried by a shaft 19 mounted in bearings 20 on the rear ends of upperv and lower frame bars'12 and 17.

A longitudinal frame 22 extends below the lower frame portion land is hung therefrom by bars 22 at its ends, said frame 22 carrying the aviators seat 23, and also carrying the running gear, said running gear comprising, for'example, a front wheel 241cmnected by post 25 to the front of the frame 22 and two rear wheels 26 connected to the rear bar 27 of the frame by posts'28. Engines or motors 30 are mounted in suitable position on the machine, for example, on the lower frame bars 6 and 7 at the rear portion of the machine, the shafts-31 of said engines carrying the propellers or fans 32 and the axis of said shafts being preferably in the plane of the longitudinal axis or median lines the triangular aeroplane surdownward, being connected at their lower.

faces r1, but between the upper and lower aeroplane surfaces. The means for controlling the horizontal rudder may consist 4of,rods 34 sliding longitudinally in the sub-frame -22 and connected by bars 35 to'said horizontal rudder, said rods beingoperated by a lever 36 near the aviators seat. Another controlling means, such as the `hand. wheel 37 near the aviators seat, is connected by shaft 38 and gears 39 and 40 tothe shaft 19 of the vertical rudder. y VWhile any suitable construction of aeroplane surfaces maybe used in connection with the above described construction, I pre-V fer to employ the form shown" in the drawl ings consisting of a flexible fabric, such as cloth, indicated at 41,.stretched over a triangular frame, the edges of the cloth being secured to the front and side bars of the triangular frame in anysuitable manner.

Fuel tan 44 are provided, preferably disposed in sets at y.each side of the axis of the machine, each set comprising two tanks, sup.

ported on the cross bars of the upper aeroplane member and extending obliquely ends to the sup ly i e 45 for the en 'ne. Each tank is trian'giilalr in horizontal cgrloss section with the apex presented forwardly so as to minimize the air resistance, and each tank tapers downwardly to its outlet end, this construction eliminating the wash or surging of the fuel in tipping of the machine and insuring maintenance of balance.

lThe operation is as follows: In starting the machine, with the running wheels 24- and 26 on the ound and the 'machine thereby supported 1n slightly inclined position, as shown in Fi 5, the motors are set in operation, and t e forward propulsion of the machine by the operation ofthe fans 32 causes a reaction of the aeroplanes 1, 2 and 10, on the air by which the machine is lifted and sustained, the elevation of the machine vbeing. controlled by operation of the horizontal rudder 14 and the machine being steered by control of the vertical rudder`,18. The lower aeroplane members 2 being smaller than the upper aeroplane members l 1i, the air is given a fuller opportunity to act on the upper aeroplane members when the machine 1s tipped upwardly and is proceeding forward and the predominant pressure thus exerted on the'upper aeroplane members tends to hold the machine in stable condition, the center of gravity of the machine .A being considerably `below the upper aeroplane members. This predominance of pres-y sure onthe upper aeroplane members is also effective 1n holding the machine in stable position while gliding or while moving more or less directly downward, the resisting effect of the air in that case being mainly presented on. the upper aeroplanes and therefore considerably above the center of gravity of the machine, so that the machine will tend to set itself with the upper aeroplanes at right angles to the direction of gravity and will therefore present maximum resistance to the descent. The formation of thel aeroplane members astriangles with their bases presented forwardly I have found to be especially adapted to flying or to gliding 1n a stable manner and with minimum .resistance and deflection. This triangular shape of the aeroplane members is also of advantage in mechanical construction, as each side of the aeroplane acts as a brace to the other sides.

What I claim'is:

1. In an aeroplane, the combination with a frame, of two triangular main aeroplane members connected at their forward ends to said frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a triangular rear aeroplane member connected at its forward end to the aforesaid aeroplane members intermediate their length and extending from such point of connection rearwardly beyond the rear ends of said main aeroplane members.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with a frame having upper and lower front bars, upper and lower rear bars, triangular upper and lower aeroplane members extendtriangular aeroplane members smaller thanv the upper aeroplane members and directly beneath the respective upper aeroplane members and supported on said lower frame portion, a rear triangular aeroplane .member connected to the upper frame ortion and extending in the space between t e rear portions of the main u per aeroplane members, and a horizontal ru der mounted below said rear aeroplane member to be angularly movable in a vertical plane, said aeroplane members and horizontal rudder bein formed as triangles with the base presented forwardly and with` the apex at the rear.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination with a frame, of two triangular main aeroplane members connected at their forward ends to said frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, a triangular aeroplane member connected at its forward end to the aforesaid aeroplane members intermediate their length and extending from such pointl of connection rearwardly beyond the rear ends of said main aeroplane members, motive devices and an aviators seat on said frame below the level of the said aeroplane members.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination with a frame, of two triangular main aeroplane members connected at their forward ends to said frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, a triangular rear aeroplane member oonneotedat its forward end to the aforesaid aeroplane members intermediate their length and extending from such point of connection rearwardly beyond the rear ends of said main aeroplane members, lower aeroplane members below said main aeroplanemembers, said lower aeroplane members being triangular and being smaller than the said main aeroplane members, an aviators seat and motive devices on said frame below the level of said main aeroplane members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of December, 1910.

DAVID LESLIE MOBLEY. 

